Candide: Analysis of Characters Pangloss, Cacambo, and Martin

A detailed Summary of Candide: Analysis of Characters Pangloss, Cacambo, and Martin


The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the novel "Candide" by Voltaire. Specifically it will discuss Candide's three mentors, Pangloss, Cacambo, and Martin as to their philosophy, personal actions, and individual judgment, and relate these character traits to their solutions to the problem of Candide's fate in Chapter 30. Each of these characters is very important to Candide and his fate at the end of the book. They all influence his life in different ways, and they all create their own form of misery at the end of the book.

Pangloss is more like Candide than any of his other mentors. Pangloss is Candide's tutor, he is as optimistic and positive, and helps Candide develop these qualities in his own life. He is almost a parody of philosophy in general, because he is optimistic even when his life does not warrant it. He suffers, but he will not admit it or admit it is important to his own version of reality. Pangloss is a philosopher, but he is the opposite of Martin, and serves as a foil to Martin's negativity and bleak outlook on ju


Cacambo is a servant to Candide, but he becomes more of an advisor and friend after he solves problems for Candide. He is honest and straightforward, which are characteristics that will help Candide in his own travels. Pangloss and Martin are ineffectual "thinkers" while Cacambo just gets things done. Candide is perfectly confident in Cacambo, which makes him a much stronger character than Martin or Pangloss, who are weak. They have good brains but use them for unhappy purposes, while Cacambo uses his to solve problems and try to make things better. He is not optimistic, in fact he says, "Indeed, the law of nature teaches us to kill our neighbour, and such is the practice all over the world" (Voltaire 72). He is a realist, and he survives by his wits, not his knowledge. In the end, he contributes to Candide's fate by finding Cunegonde and reuniting the two lovers. However, he is the manual labor in their garden, and he is not happy with his fate. In fact, no one in the end is happy, which is Voltaire's way of saying there is no "happy ever after."

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Approximate Word count = 721
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels

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